Integration of multiple automotive radar modules based on fiber-wireless network

An integrated millimeter-wave (77/79 GHz) automotive radar system based on fiber-wireless network is proposed. The purpose of this integrated system is to realize a 360° radar protection and to make the overall automotive radar system more affordable. The central module (CM) generates the desired radar signals and processes the received data. The individual radar modules (RMs) only amplify and mix down the signals. No PLL and ADCs are in RMs. Fiber network is applied for distributing the millimeter-wave radar signals from CM to RMs. An example of integration of four automotive radar modules based on fiber-wireless (Fi-Wi) network is also discussed. A frequency quadrupler is utilized in RM. Therefore, CM needs to generate only 19~20.25-GHz signals. This could lower the operation frequencies as well as the cost of optical-to-electrical (O/E) and electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters. The smaller individual RM will provide more installation flexibility. Furthermore, the fiber network can also be the backbone of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to connect more sensors, and accommodate the future big data flow. Fi-Wi network could provide the overall integrated automotive radar system with more expandability. This proposed system could be a great candidate to provide sensing functions of future fully autonomous cars.